Kevin Madden (born March 2, 1972) is an American pundit or public relations professional in newspapers and magazines and appears regularly on television news and talk shows, largely on cable news programming in the United States. He was a senior advisor to and spokesman for Mitt Romney's failed 2012 U.S. presidential campaign.
Professional history
After graduating from college in 1994, Madden went to work for the Yonkers City Council, working for Councilman Carlo DiNota. He soon became the spokesman for family friend John Spencer's successful 1996 Yonkers mayoral campaign."New DeLay spokesman at ease in a battle zone" by Samantha Levine, Houston Chronicle, August 8, 2005, Retrieved 2012-08-29 After helping Spencer win re-election, Madden moved to Washington, D.C. and, beginning in 2001, became senior policy advisor and chief spokesman for Congressman John E. Sweeney."Class Notes: Class of 1992", Morrisville State College Alumni News, Vol 79, Issue 02, Winter 2005, page 5, Retrieved 2012-08-29, Approx 1.9MB download
By the mid 2000s, Madden had had several public relations positions for Republicans in federal government, including as press secretary for House Republican leadership (including then-Majority Leader Tom DeLay and then-Majority Leader John Boehner); as press spokesman for the George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004; and as one of a handful of national spokespersons and Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the George W. Bush administration Department of Justice."Arena Profile: Kevin Madden", Politico, 2012, Retrieved 2012-08-29"Kevin Madden to Join The Glover Park Group Public Affairs Practice", Glover Park Group press release, June 18, 2008, Retrieved 2012-08-29 In 2003, the Irish Voice described Madden's growing stature in the GOP as "further proof of the heavy influence New York Irish Americans have in the Republican party". By 2006, U.S. News & World Report referred to Madden as "battle-tested", and alluded to each of his high-profile public relations organizations (first for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and then for House Republican leadership) as "a lean operation, an intense focus, and a positive message"."Romney's Hiring Whirlwind Snags Madden", U.S.News: Washington Whispers, November 29, 2006, Retrieved 2012-08-29
Madden began working for Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign in 2007, soon with the joint titles 'National Press Secretary' and 'Senior Communications Strategist'. Although John McCain won the Republican (GOP) nomination, a Los Angeles Times discussion of Romney's unsuccessful 2008 primary campaign noted, "his media operation CANNOT rank among the problems. Anchored by Kevin Madden -- a savvy and telegenic GOP spokesman -- the press shop was hard-working, well-organized and quick-off-the-mark.""Romney's staff served him well" by Andrew Malcolm, Los Angeles Times, February 7, 2008, Retrieved 2012-08-29 Also discussing the 2008 campaigns, The Belfast Telegraph opined that Madden (and Matt Rhoades) "have built the most sophisticated of all the press operations... Madden, in particular, is genuinely liked and respected by the press"."The people who sell presidents" by Stephen Foley, Belfast Telegraph, February 4, 2008, Retrieved 2012-08-29
The following election cycle, Kevin Madden joined Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. As Romney was securing the nomination in July 2012, ABC News described Madden as "a face of the campaign" and as "a more visible member of the candidate's campaign staff"."Romney Senior Advisor Kevin Madden to Become More Visible on Campaign Trail" by Emily Friedman, ABCNews: The Note, July 6, 2012, Retrieved 2012-08-29 In August 2012, Politico reported that "Romney is hardly preoccupied with his transition just yet – but...Kevin Madden, traveling spokesman on the campaign plane, would be expected to be named White House spokesman"."Who's on the inside track for a Romney Cabinet" by MIKE ALLEN and JIM VANDEHEI, Politico, August 28, 2012, Retrieved 2012-08-28 Following Romney's 2012 loss, Madden pointed to immigration in particular as "a missed opportunity for Romney"."Romney adviser: Mitt moved too far right on immigration" by Erin Delmore, MSNBC: Andrea Mitchell Reports, January 29, 2013, Retrieved 2013-02-26
Between the 2008 and 2012 campaigns, Madden was hired as a Managing Director with The Glover Park Group, a public affairs firm in Washington D.C., before joining Charleston, South Carolina public affairs firm JDA Frontline in March 2010 to launch and direct their Washington, DC operations. Following the 2012 elections, Madden resumed daily responsibilities as JDA's 'Executive Vice President of Public Affairs'."Who We Are", JDAFrontline.com, , "Kevin Madden launched and directs the firm's Washington, DC operations."
Media appearances
Kevin Madden has appeared on dozens of episodes of many political discussion programs on American cable news programs. His profile at a speaker agency"FORA.tv Speaker — Kevin Madden", FORA.tv, states: "Madden is regularly called upon to serve as a commentator on the media and politics on network news shows as well as CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, CNBC, Bloomberg and the BBC among others. He has also published political commentary in exclusive venues, such as the opinion sections of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal." Appearances include: Hardball with Chris Matthews,MSNBC.com, May 4, 2009, Larry King Live, Verdict with Dan Abrams, The Situation Room,"The Spokespundits" by Howard Kurtz, The Washington Post, July 28, 2008, Retrieved 2012-08-29 Meet the PressNBC News, June 3, 2012, Retrieved 2012-08-29 and Morning JoeTwitter.com personal account "KevinMaddenDC", August 20, 2012, Retrieved 2012-08-29
Madden appeared in the 2008 documentary film The Return of the War Room, a sequel to The War Room, a 1993 documentary about the 1992 U.S. presidential election."Kevin Madden", IMDB.com, Retrieved 2012-08-29
In April 2013, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Kevin Madden was being considered for the proposed relaunch of CNN's Crossfire; the program had been off the air since 2005."Newt Gingrich, Stephanie Cutter, Romney Adviser Kevin Madden Eyed for 'Crossfire'" by Marisa Guthrie, The Hollywood Reporter, 2013-04-23, Retrieved 2013-05-20
Personal life
Madden alludes to his childhood in Yonkers, New York, when he describes himself as "A simple city boy – you might say a cockeyed optimist – mixed up in the high stakes game of world diplomacy and international intrigue...."Twitter.com personal account "KevinMaddenDC", Retrieved 2012-08-29 U.S. News referred to Madden as "a Yankees fan" and an "Irishman"; his County Galway-born father and County Tyrone-born mother"Bush Taps Son of Yonkers" by Tom Deignan, Irish Voice, August 19, 2003, Retrieved 2012-10-07. emigrated from Ireland in the early 1960s."Careers in Politics: Kevin Madden", C-SPAN, May 14, 2009, Retrieved 2012-08-29 Madden told the Houston Chronicle that his father, an auto mechanic, read three newspapers each Sunday and enjoyed discussing news and politics; he told Politico, "I grew up in a household where it was a sin to sit in silence without an opinion.... Makes sense that I went into politics, my sister chose journalism, and my brother is a lawyer."
Raised as a Roman Catholic, Madden attended and was graduated from a parochial Roman Catholic school, then from Morrisville State College in 1992, and earned an undergraduate degree in communication studies from the State University of New York at Cortland in 1994. On November 22, 2003, Madden married Jaclyn Norris (of Pittsburgh), then legislative director for Congressman Ric Keller and former intern for Senator Rick Santorum;"The Note: Coupling" by Mark Halperin et al, ABCNews.com, November 20, 2003, Retrieved 2012-08-29, "This Saturday [November 22, 2003], BC04 spokesman Kevin Madden will marry Jaclyn Norris, Legislative Director for Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.). Even in the final days before his wedding, Madden still has his eye on Election Day: "The fact that she's also from Pittsburgh, Pa., where the wedding will be held, delights Ken Mehlman. Pennsylvania and Florida are two electoral goldmines, so every little bit of effort helps! (Jac also interned for Senator Santorum.)" " Harper's Magazine described Norris as "strikingly beautiful"."Congressman Ric Keller's Chronology of Political and Family Values" by Ken Silverstein, Harper's Magazine, November 14, 2007, Retrieved 2012-08-29, "Congressman Ric Keller of Florida ... hired a number of strikingly beautiful young female staffers. These included Jaclyn Norris, who later married Kevin Madden, now spokesman for Mitt Romney's campaign" Norris continued employment in a range of Congressional staff assignments until 2007."Jaclyn Norris Madden", Legistorm.com, Retrieved 2012-10-07
By 2010, the couple had three sons."Mike Allen's PLAYBOOK" by Michael Allen, Politico, August 13, 2010, Retrieved 2012-10-07 , "Kevin Madden e-mails, with the subject line, "Madden 2010": "Sean Joseph Madden was welcomed into the world [August 12, 2010]. Sean weighed in at 9 lbs 4 oz and measured 20 and 1/4 inches long. He is healthy, happy and resting comfortably with Mom. Sean has a busy day ahead tomorrow: he's meeting his brothers Riley and Colin for the first time..." " Several reports from Romney's 2008 campaign repeat an anecdote from November 2007, describing Madden's then twenty-month-old son "strutting about with a Blackberry, jabbering nonsense and punching away at the keys. "I was so heartbroken," [Madden] quipped... "I wanted my kid to be a football star, not a national press secretary."""On the Road: Romney's Campaign Family" by Michael Luo, New York Times: The Caucus, November 26, 2007, Retrieved 2012-08-29"No more 'free rein'" by Mike Allen, Politico, November 27, 2007, Retrieved 2012-08-29"Facebook Live Study Guide: Ron Klain, Kevin Madden", October 14, 2011, NBC News: Press Pass, Retrieved 2012-08-29 Madden cites his "pro-life" identification as one reason for his affiliation as a Republican.
Accolades